Parallels said that the tests, conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, also found that the new Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is up to 300 percent faster for virtual machine operations than its predecessor. In addition, 3Dmark 2006 Professional test scores perform up to 7 times better for 3D and graphics performance.
"As the OS battles rage between Microsoft, Apple and Linux, we provide a completely customizable solution that enables people to use the applications they need with the fastest performance available, regardless of the operating system," said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels. "Parallels continues to build on its proven track record of innovation, responding to our customers by providing the fastest, smartest and most powerful Windows-on-Mac experience available."
The latest version of Parallels Desktop features more than 70 new features, including a new "Crystal view" mode, which can make Windows completely disappear. The new software also allows users to enable Apple multitouch trackpad gestures — such as pinch, swipe, and rotate — within Windows.
Features within the new Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac include:
- Full support for Aero in Windows Vista and 7 through Windows WDDM driver, including Aero Flip 3D.
- Virtual machine size automatically optimized for best performance with Parallels Compressor.
- Improved performance for Linux guest OS from KVM paravirtualization.
- A more Mac-like experience in Windows applications through Apple trackpad gestures technology, horizontal scrolling and the application of full-screen active corners and curl page effect.
- Copy and paste fidelity for formatted text and complete layouts including images, even between Windows and Linux guest OSes.
- Freedom and flexibility to run Windows and Mac applications across multiple monitors.
- Seven times better graphics performance for games and 3D applications than the previous version with Direct X 9Ex with Shader Model 3 and OpenGL 2.1 support.
- Superior graphics performance for Linux guests through OpenGL 2.1 support.
- Full hardware resources can be utilized with support for 8 virtual CPUs, 64-bit Windows and Snow Leopard Server 64-bit.
- Easily move PCs (including Windows 7) and third-party virtual machines to the Mac with the enhanced Parallels Transporter.
Parallels is also offering users a free trial of the software, which the company has touted as faster, smarter and more powerful. The software is available now in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, and localized versions in Chinese, Czech, Hungarian, Japanese, Polish and Russian are expected in the coming weeks.
At $79.99, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac includes $175 worth of additional software: Parallels Internet Security 2009 by Kaspersky with a one-year subscription, Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.0, and Acronis True Image Home 2010.
In October, competitor VMWare announced Fusion 3, with more than 50 new features. Like Parallels Desktop 5, Fusion 3 is optimized for both Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and Windows 7, taking advantage of the 64-bit architecture in both operating systems. VMware Fusion 3 also has a retail price of $79.99.
65 Comments
Is the MacBook Pro in that pic a old generation? It has both audio in and out. I thought new ones had only 1 audio port.
Is the MacBook Pro in that pic a old generation? It has both audio in and out. I thought new ones had only 1 audio port.
Nope; the 15 inch version still has 2 audio ports.
I am getting this today ... I was planning on ordering Windoze 7 (OEM) version today so the timing is perfect! I also use VMWare and was about to go with their upgrade but I think I will just get Parallels 5 for now, using the two since their respective day ones, I prefer Parallels for some reason. I can't put my finger on why to be honest.
Does anyone know if 7 allows multiple versions of the same licensed product in VMs if you are on the same Mac and IP? I like to have several as they are all use for testing purposes.
Curious that they would only mention the Macbook Pro.
I wonder if Parallels 5 is lagging behind Fusion 3 when it comes to more than two cores?
Curious that they would only mention the Macbook Pro.
I wonder if Parallels 5 is lagging behind Fusion 3 when it comes to more than two cores?
According to the article that is not the case...
"Full hardware resources can be utilized with support for 8 virtual CPUs, 64-bit Windows and Snow Leopard Server 64-bit."